Give everything you have . . . without worrying
about what you will receive in return
CEDER Foundation

Vision
To be a beacon of light to abandoned elderly members of our society; to love and care for them so as to improve their quality of life and provide them with the opportunity to know God personally.

Description The CEDER Foundation was created as a result of elderly adults ‘falling through the cracks’ of both governmental and non-governmental programs. Numerous Honduran senior citizens have been left to defend themselves or are living in extreme poverty. CEDER offers these individuals shelter and daily meals where they can pass what may be some of their last days in peace surrounded by people who want to share God’s love with them.

In years past the elderly worked and served among their community surrounded by their family members. Today, where numerous adult children have migrated to the States or have simply taken on a mindset of independence, many elderly members of society have become the most unprotected members of society. As a result, the majority fall victim to extreme poverty, acts of violence and psychological and physical abuse.

Since its beginning, CEDER has helped more than 150 senior citizens re-integrate into their families. There are currently 33 elderly individuals who were homeless that are now living in our center. A number of these 18 women and 15 men suffer from mental and/or physical illnesses are provided with health care as well as emotional and spiritual support. The eldest man living in our center is 90 years old and the eldest women living in our center is 97 years old.

Jose Francisco Amador was born in Tegucigalpa in 1951. He has studied Administration, Theology and Dentistry throughout Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia, and Spain. In 1973 Jose began serving in his community in various areas and functions that has extended over the years, including: a volunteer fire fighter – San Pedro Sula, member of the Lions Club, serving in his church, helping in shelters that assist individuals with numerous issues (AIDS, drug addiction, rebellious youth, and migration), assisting in nursing homes and serving as Santa Claus for local children every year. In 1995, Mr. Amador married Amarilys Matos from the Dominican Republic. Together they started a Prison Ministry that same year. Jose has written his experiences and an analysis about the problems in Honduran prisons (2000). In 2001 he founded the CEDER Center to assist and care for abandoned and homeless senior citizens.

Mr. Amador has attended and given conferences in the area of societal problems throughout Honduras, the United States, Uruguay, and South Korea. He continues to write short articles for local papers in Honduras.

Project Santa Claus
Objective: To see the gift of Christmas through Jesus’ eyes.

Many of us grew up knowing that we were loved and that we had the opportunity to make something of ourselves one day. To the majority of Honduran children, love and a spirit of hope is a luxury that few ever realize. The children that do grow up in homes lack love and affection. The children on the streets don’t even have a shelter to call home. The extremely poor work to collect trash or to fill in holes in the road to survive, but regardless whether these young ones are found in the central plaza or digging through the trash they all have one thing in common, they want a miracle of love. On the day that we take time to remember Jesus’ birth, we have also been given the opportunity to share God’s blessing and joy with others – including “the least of us.” Through Project Santa Claus, we desire to reach out to children in extreme poverty during the Christmas season. While our tokens of love are small, the impact of showing a young one love and attention is invaluable.

Help needed:
CEDER is working on the construction on a new home for its elderly and recovering alcoholics. Donations or any help with the construction or visiting the elderly in the home is welcome.

Closing Observations
Being a servant is no small task, but with God as our guide He has promised us that we can do all things through Him. Many men have tried by their own strength to change the world and few have succeeded and fewer yet have left footprints of a life-changing love. Men and women, young and old, rich and poor alike, need to believe that God is indeed alive and working among us. Let us join together in doing God’s will to reach out to the least among us, to be a light among the dark and to give them the opportunity to know Him personally.

For additional information or to contribute to the CEDER Foundation :

Telephone: 220 40 22 / 237-7750
Email : frank100a@yahoo.es
Address : Cuesta lempira casa 629 Tegucigalpa, Honduras C,A.